NTTP 3-50.1 NAVY TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES NAVY SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) MANUAL NTTP 3-50.1 EDITION APRIL 2009 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; URGENT CHANGE/ERRATUM RECORD DISTRIBUTION IS UNLIMITED. NUMBER DATE ENTERED BY PRIMARY REVIEW AUTHORITY: HELICOPTER SEA COMBAT SQUADRON THREE 0411LP1092782 1 APR 2009 NTTP 3-50.1 INTENTIONALLY BLANK APR 2009 2 NTTP 3-50.1 INTENTIONALLY BLANK APR 2009 4 NTTP 3-50.1 April 2009 PUBLICATION NOTICE ROUTING 1. NTTP 3-50.1 (APR 2009), NAVY SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) MANUAL, is available in the Navy Warfare Library. It is effective upon receipt. 2. Summary. This manual provides guidance to units assigned SAR responsibilities. It is intended to promote and maintain standardization of SAR procedures, equipment, and techniques within the U.S. Naval forces. Navy Warfare Library Custodian Navy Warfare Library publications must be made readily available to all users and other interested personnel within the U.S. Navy. Note to Navy Warfare Library Custodian This notice should be duplicated for routing to cognizant personnel to keep them informed of changes to this publication. 5 APR 2009 NTTP 3-50.1 INTENTIONALLY BLANK APR 2009 6 NTTP 3-50.1 CONTENTS Page No. CHAPTER 1 — AVIATION MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE PROCEDURES 1.1 MARITIME ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 SEARCH ................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.1 Search Planning......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.2 SAR Organization ..................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.3 Search Brief............................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.4 Search Execution....................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.5 Survivor Sighting ...................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.6 Fixed-Wing Sighting................................................................................................................. 1-2 1.3 RESCUE PROCEDURES......................................................................................................... 1-4 1.3.1 Assessing the Rescue Situation................................................................................................. 1-4 1.3.2 Marking of the Survivor’s Position........................................................................................... 1-5 1.3.3 Rescue Pattern........................................................................................................................... 1-5 1.3.4 Multiple Rescue Decision ......................................................................................................... 1-6 1.3.5 Rescue Hover Position .............................................................................................................. 1-6 1.3.6 Rescue Swimmer Deployment .................................................................................................. 1-6 1.3.7 Rescue Swimmer Recovery Procedures.................................................................................... 1-14 1.3.8 Maritime Direct Deployment Procedures.................................................................................. 1-16 1.4 RESCUE EQUIPMENT RIGGING, DEPLOYMENT AND RECOVERY PROCEDURES......................................................................................................................... 1-21 1.4.1 Rescue Hook............................................................................................................................. 1-24 1.4.2 Rescue Strop.............................................................................................................................. 1-27 1.4.3 Collapsible Rescue Basket (McCauley Basket) ........................................................................ 1-29 1.4.4 Rescue Net................................................................................................................................. 1-32 1.4.5 Rescue Seat ............................................................................................................................... 1-36 1.4.6 Rescue/Medical Evacuation Litter Procedures.......................................................................... 1-39 1.5 SURVIVOR FLOTATION IN THE HELICOPTER................................................................ 1-44 1.6 HELICOPTER LIFE RAFT DEPLOYMENT.......................................................................... 1-45 1.6.1 Uninflated Life Raft Deployment.............................................................................................. 1-46 1.6.2 Inflated Life Raft Deployment .................................................................................................. 1-46 1.7 HELICOPTER-TO-SHIP PERSONNEL TRANSFER ............................................................ 1-47 1.7.1 Hoisting Vest............................................................................................................................. 1-47 1.7.2 Helicopter-to-Ship Trail-Line Hoisting Procedures .................................................................. 1-48 1.8 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ............................................................................................... 1-52 7 APR 2009 NTTP 3-50.1 Page No. 1.8.1 Rescue Hoist Failure during a Rescue....................................................................................... 1-52 1.8.2 Jammed Rescue Hoist Procedures............................................................................................. 1-52 1.8.3 Severed Rescue Hoist Cable ..................................................................................................... 1-54 1.8.4 Rigging the Hoist Quick Splice Plate........................................................................................ 1-54 1.9 AVIATION SAR READINESS CONDITIONS ...................................................................... 1-55 1.9.1 SAR Condition I........................................................................................................................ 1-56 1.9.2 SAR Condition II. ..................................................................................................................... 1-56 1.9.3 SAR Condition III. .................................................................................................................... 1-56 1.9.4 SAR Condition IV..................................................................................................................... 1-56 CHAPTER 2 — SURFACE VESSEL SEARCH AND RESCUE PROCEDURES 2.1 BASIC FACTORS .................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Means of Rescue ....................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 Surface Ship SAR Responsibility.............................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.3 Decision to Launch Rescue Boat or Conduct Shipboard Recovery.......................................... 2-1 2.2 SHIP’S ORGANIZATION ....................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.1 Rescue Swimmer....................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.3 SHIPBOARD PREPARATIONS FOR SAR OPERATIONS .................................................. 2-3 2.3.1 Assessing the Rescue Situation................................................................................................. 2-4 2.3.2 Cold-Water Operations ............................................................................................................. 2-5 2.3.3 Plane Guard Assignment........................................................................................................... 2-5 2.4 SEARCH ................................................................................................................................... 2-6 2.4.1 Search Planning......................................................................................................................... 2-6 2.4.2 Lookouts.................................................................................................................................... 2-6 2.4.3 Daylight Search......................................................................................................................... 2-6 2.4.4 Night Search.............................................................................................................................. 2-6 2.5 MARKING OF THE SURVIVOR’S POSITION..................................................................... 2-6 2.6 AIR/SURFACE COORDINATION ......................................................................................... 2-7 2.6.1 Ship/Rescue Boat Standby Position .......................................................................................... 2-7 2.6.2 Helicopter Turnover